Beet-loading machine



' If, JONES` BEET LQADING MACHINE, APPLICATION FILD AUG-BI'IQIIQII mmm m 269 ma.

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F. JNES.

BEET' LGADING MACHINE. L APPL'lcATloN mgl) Aua. 1919.

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UNITED STATES @TENT OFFICE.

FRANK- JONES, 0F SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.

BERT-LOADING MACHINE.

y Application filed August 8,

To all 107mm 'it may concern Be it known that I, FRANK JONES, a citizen of theUnit-ed States, residing at Salt Lake (,ity` in the county of Salt Lake and State of Utah, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Beet-Loading Machines, of which the following is a speci'- fication.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in material handling machines and particularly In` chines which are designed ,for the special purpose of reclaiming beets from stock piles; and the in` vention consists of the parts and the constructions, arrangements and combinations of parts which I will hereinafter describe and point out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification and in which similar reference characters indicate like parts in the several views: v

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a beet loading machine embodying my invention.

Fig. i). atop plan view of the same, showing the troughing belt omitted and the upper part of the conveying and screening belt broken away.-

Fig. I is an end view of the upper portion of the discharge end of the machine.

While the invention I am about to describe. is designed primarily for the reclaim- Aing of beets from stock piles and screening outV the dirt and foreign matter and finally depositing the beets in a cle-an condition int-oJ 'a suitable conveyance, or transferring said beets to a desired point of deposit, the operation being a continuous one, I desire itunderstood that I do not limit my invention to this particular use as the machine will be foundof value in other fields and wherever it is desired to remove loose material from a pile or dump and screen the same of foreign or objectionable matter and then transport the cleaned materialto another point for filial deposit.

A leading object of' my invention is to construct a single machine of the traction or self-propelled type, operated by a suitable engine or motor, and which machine shall embody means for propelling said machine and driving the. various mechanisms thereof; means for entering the pile of Specification of Letters Iatent.

Patented oct. 2c, 1920.

1919. Serial No. 316,092.

beets, or other material, to remove a portion of the same; conveying means for receivlng beets or'. material directly from the pile, said last-named means havingA the capacity of separating from the beets the associated dirt 'or foreign matter duringthe conveyance of the beets, or material; and a second conveying` means situated to.d ii'ectly receive the cleaned beets, or material and convey the same to a conveyance, or place of deposit. l y

'In carrying out m invention I construct he forward end of' t l1e machine with a suitable frame, e, of angle-ironor other material and of such dimensions -as I may wish, to suit the particular work for which the machine is designed, said frame being set at 'a suitable incline and having solid vertical castings, or standards, g, at the sides inten mediate of the ends and which are securelyr bolted to the frame, said 'ca stxngs or standl ards being formed with .bearings, /z, z', j, and

.: as shown in Fig. l, the bearings i, being for the reception of' the journals of a transverse shaft m carrying bearing wheels or rollers, n. upon which the inclined forward end of the machine is supported. -Suitable fingers a, arranged horizontally side-by-side in spaced relation are 'carried' at the lower front end of the machine; the rear ends of these fingers are slightly inclined andare bolted or otherwise Secured to the bearing block, li, on the castings or brackets, :(1, and from this point the series of spaced lingers project forwardly and are substantially horizontally disposed and are designed to be advanced or pushed into the lower portion 'of the pile of beets or material to be handled so as .to lift and remove a portion of the same.

'lhe exterior lingers may be flanked by guards or shoes, fr, r formed by front extensions of the sides of the frame and which may serve as dividers of the pile and prevent the beets rolling over the sides of the series of fingers, said guards or shoes being bolted or Aotherwise secured to the bearing block, It, and to a bracket, h' at the lower front end oi'- the frame, c. To prevent the beets rolling under the bearing Wheels of the succeeding traction part of the machine. I extend along the side of the front inclined conveyer portion adjacent the ground, a. suitable guard, g', the opposite portions ot' which are secured respectively tothe frame e, and the bearing for theshaft of the front supporting wheels A of the succeeding traction portion of the machine.

Within the frame e are mounted the shafts or rollers (l, al', which support a series of suitable endless preferably are of the link-belt type: v'. e.' the belt comprises a series of detachable links with special attachments-which convey and elevate the beets. or material to another conveyer disposed adjacent the delivery end of the series of belts. The chainbelts are spaced apart to form intermediate openings. sayabout one inch wide, which permit the dirt or foreign matter usually found associated with the beets. to fall through and separate from the beets. Thus the series of chain-belts constitute an endless-carrier screen-belt the function of which is to directly receive the dirty beets from the separating lingers. 1. and to advance and elevate the beets and at the saine time cause the screening and separation of associated dirt. whereby the`beets will be. delivered in a clean condition at the upper end of the conveyer. The central portions of the chain-belts are supported on rollers, 1. on shafts mounted in the bearings of the castings y,

(ln the upper shaft of the conveyer is a sprocket wheel. from which a chain f. leads to a sprocket wheel. G on a transverse shaft E2 mounted in bearings secured to the main frame. l of the traction-portion ofthe machine. as shown in l"ig. l. This portion of the machine is coupled or connected to the before-described front pox'- tion by means of a draw-bar or coupling links, P, one end of which is pivotally counected to the main frame. li while the opposite or forward end is pivotally mounted in the bearings. j. in the castings or brackets, g, of the inclined forward portion of the machine. By this arrangement. as the. main frame is propelled forward or backward the same motion is transmitted to the forward coupled-portion of the machine, in which the aforesaid chain conveyer is mounted.

Referring to Fig. 1, the upper end of the frame e, is attached to side chains, t, or l like Hexiblemconnections which lead downwardly and rearwardly to a windlng drum or shaft, u, mounted on the main frame, B3,

of the traction portion of the machine and provided with a hand-lever, fu,

by which the frame. e, may be vertically tilted about its bearing wheels or rollers, and lower the front lingers. a, relatively to the ground; a suitable pawl-and-ratchet mechanism 3 may be employed to secure the shaft or Winding drum and thereby hold the conveying belts which.

u, a. to raise,V

frame e and its associated parts in their adjusted positions.

The traction portion of the machine has its front bearing wheels loosely mounted n the transverse shaft, B, and these wheels, preferably are supplied with a central circumferential rib or flange which tends to guide the machine in a definite direction.

At the rear end of the main frame, B3 is mounted a horizontal transverse winding drum or shaft, l), from which extends forwardly the chains. C. or like connections, and which pass over the idler pulleys, 4, and have their forward ends attached to the front axle or shaft B, said windinc` drum or shaft, D, having a worm wheel. E engaged b v a worm, E. on a vertical shaft carrying at its top a hand wheel. l". rThis or an equivalent arrangement is utilized for-steer ing the machine since by the operation of the hand wheel, l". the front axle. B, ma be turned to the right or left, as desired.

The main frame, B3. of the traction portion of the machine may be of any desired construction andv arrangement and is designed to suitably support th(` frame E3 of t'he trough conveyer, the two frames being suitably rigidly connected and"the frame E supporting the trough conveyer and. also, serving as a cantaliver in supporting a discharge chute, H. and the head pulley. of said congeyer. The trough conveyer may otherwise be of the well known consti-action with its tail pulley. ('ir. troughing rollers. and the usual adjuncts of a conveyer of this type. At the right-hand side of the machine a guard, F3 is used. attached to the main frame just in advanceot the main wheels. for clearing the track of beets.

ln operation. the beets dug from fthepile by the fingers, a. are elevated and screened and the clean beets are delivered into a chute. 5. at the delivery end of the chain conveyer and are thence directed onto the receiving end of the troughing eonveyer and by said conveyer-the clean beets 'are elevated and delivered into the chute, H, which guides them into a conveyance.

ower necessary to propel the machine and operate the severa-l mechanisms thereof is derived from an engine, I, of appropriate type having a gear, J, which is designed to drive a gear, K, on the shaft L, having a sprocket wheel, Z, which. latter drives-the chain, M, sprocket wheel, N, and shaft, O, said wheels, P, Q, which revolve with the shaft. A yoke, R, attached to the friction wheels, P, Q, is actuated by a lever, S, whereby when this lever is moved to one side the friction wheel,

shaft carryingr the friction j P, is in contact with a fric- 'tio'n Wheel, T, thus drivingthe latter in one direction.

opposite side, `the friction wheel, P, is removed. from-driving engagement with the friction wheel, T, and the friction wheel, Q, is brought into operative.engagement with the friction wheel, T, causing the latter to rotate in the opposite direction.

rlhe friction wheel. T, is on the shaft, ll, to which is attached a worm, V, which drives a worm wheel, lV, on the drive axle, X, to which the main supporting or traction wheels, Y, are secured.

The main frame, B, is supported on the drive axle, X, and the machine is, by the mechanism described, caused to move either forward or backward depending on which friction wheel is in engagement with the friction wheel T.

At the end of theshaft, is a clutch, A2 which revolves therewith and is actuated by a lever, B2. which when moved to one side connects the clutch with a pinion CL. fixed on the shaft and meshing with a gear wheel, D2, on the shaft, E2. which carries the sprocket wheels, F2, G2, which transmit motion to the conveyers, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

The full operation will be understood from the foregoing description. Briefly, the machine is driven to the point where the pile of beets is located, and the fingers are pushed into the pile and a portion of the beets lifted and fall onto the chain conn veyer and are elevated by the latter and at the saine time separated from the associated dirt: the clean beets are then delivered to the troughing conveyer and finally are discharged by the chute, Il, into the desired conveyance.

`With a raehine such as I have described. am able to reclaim beets, or the like, from a stock pile and screen and load the same by one continuous operation. The machine being of the tractor type, can be propelled either around the pile and take a swath or it can be propelled forward taking a swath of beets and then be propelled backward empty ready for a second swath. The machine can also be propelled ahead a few inches at a time causing the beets to fall upon the chain conveyer which screens and elevates them to the troughconveyer. While this description refers particularly to handling beets, it will be apparent that other loose material may be handled in a like manner without departing from `the spirit ot' the invention.

l'laving thus described my invention what l claim as newI and desire to 'secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A machine of the tractor type for reclaiming beets from a stock pile, screenimg` and loading them by one continuous operation, said machine having, in combination,-

a tiltabie screening and conveying mechanism at in 'front extremity provided With a series of spaced fingers at one end adapted to be pushed into said pile, a conveyer succeeding and directly connecting with the delivery end of said screening and conveying mechanisma motor, and driving connections between lthe motor and the machine and said conveyers, said screening and c011- veying mechanism having a part adapted to fulcrum against the ground to change ther inclination of said mechanism.

2. A. machine of the tractor type for rel driving connections between the motor ante the machine and .said conveyers, said conveying and screening mechanism comprising a frame coupled to the front extremity of the machine and vhaving spaced endless belts mounted therein and having an intermediate portion adapted as a ground fulcrum about which the frame is tiltable.

3. .a machine of the tractor type for reclaiming beets from a stock pile, screening and loading them by one continuous operation, said machine having. in combination` a series of spaced fingers at one end adapted to be pushed into said pile, a combined conveying and screening mechanism succeeding` said fingers and receiving the beets therefrom, a conveyor succeeding and directly connecting with the delivery end of said elevating and screening mechanism, a. motor. driving connections between the motor andthe machine and said conveyers, said conveying and screening mechanism comprisin'-,r a frame at the 'front extremity of the machine, spaced endless belts mounted in said frame, a ground support for the frame intermediate of the ends thereof, and means for tilting the frame about said supto the ground.

i 4. A machine of the tractor type for reclaiming beets froml a stock pile, screening and loading them by one continuous operation, said machine having, in con'ibination, a series of spaced fingers at one end adapted to be pushed into said pile, a combined Vconveying and screening mechanism succeeding' said fingers and receiving the beets therefron'i, a conveyer succeeding and directly connecting with the delivery end of said elevating and screening mechanism, a motor, driving connections between the motor and the machine and said conveyers, said conveying and screening mechanism comprising an upwardly inclined frame, spaced endless belts mounted in said frame, standards on the sides 'of the frame, intermediate of the ends thereof, having a ground-roller support, and a bearing mem-v ber extending between said standards and to which the rear ends of the fingers are secured.

5. A machine of the tractor type for re claiming beets from a stock pile, screening and loading them by one continuous operation, said machine having, in combination, a

series of spaced fingers at one end adaptedto be pushed into said pile, a Combined conveying and screening mechanism succeeding said fingers and receiving the beets therefrom a conveyer succeeding and directly connect-ing with the delivery end of said elevating and screening mechanism, a motor, driving connections between the motor and the machine and said conveyers, said conveying and screening mechanism comprising an upwardly inclined frame, spaced endless belts mounted in said frame, standards on the sides of the frame intermediate of the ends thereof having a ground-roller support, a bearing member extending between said standards and -to which the rear ends of the fingers are secured, and means for varying the inclination of' said frame and the conveying and screening mechanism.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a tractor havingcomplen'ientary power and transmission mechanisms, of aframe having ground engaging side standards intermediate of its length and spaced endless carriers for conveying and screening material received thereon, spaced fingers fixed to said frame and projecting in advance of the receiving end of said carriers and adapted to be pushed into a pile of material to be handled, and to deliver removed portions thereof onto said carriers, rearwardly extending coupling means between the front portion of the tractor and said standards, a conveyer on the tractor connecting with the delivery end of said carriers, and connections from the power 'mechanism of the tractor forr operating said carriers and conveyer.

7. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a tractor havin'g complementary power and transmission mechanisms, of a frame having ground engaging standards intermediate of its length and spaced endless carriers for conveylng and screening material received thereon, spaced fingers fixed to said frame and projecting in advance of the recelvmg end of said carriers and adapted to be pushed into a pile of material to be handled, and to deliver removed portions thereof onto said carriers, rearwardly extending coupling means between the front portion of the tractor and said standards, yconveyer on the tractor connecting with the delivery end of said carriers, connections from the power mechanism of the tractor for operating said carriers and conveyer, and adjustir means on the tractor' connectingv with sai frame and tilting the latter about the ground engaging portion of said stamlards to adjust said fingers relatively to the ground.

8. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a tractor having complementary power and transmission mechanisms, of' a frame having spaced endless carriers for conveying and screening material received thereon, spaced fingers fixed to said frame and projecting in advance of the receiving endot| said carriers and adapted t0 be pushed into a pile of material to be handled, and to deliver removed portions thereof onto said carriers, coupling means between the tractor and said frame, a conveyer on the tractor connecting with the delivery end of said carriers, connections from the power mechanism of the tractor for operating said carriers and conveyer, adjusting means on the tractor connecting with said frame and tilting the latter about a horizontal axis to adjust the said lingers relatively to the ground, said adjusting means comprising a winding drum, means for operating said drum, and a flexible connection from the drum to said frame.

9. The combination with a wheeled trac tor having. complementary driving and transmission mechanisms, of a wheeled conveyer frame, coupling means between the frame and tractor, a series of endless conveyer belts arranged side by side in said frame and spaced transversely apart to permit dirt and foreign matter to separate from the beets while the latter are being conveyed, a series of spaced fingers secured to the frame adjacent the ground and extending beyond the receiving end of said belts and adapted to be pushed into a pile of beets and to direct beets onto the beltsgand guards adjacent the outermost fingers of the series for preventing the beets rolling off the fingers. l

10. The combination with a wheeled tractor having complementary driving and transmission mechanisms, of an inclined conveyer frame coupled in line with the tractor and having means for removing screening and transporting the material to be handled, and a guard extending from the conveyer frame across the space between the same and the tractor, to revent material rolling under the wheels o said tractor.

11. The combination with a wheeled tractor having complementary driving and transmission mechanisms, of an inclined conveyer frame coupled in line with the tractor and having means. for removing screening and transporting the material to be handled, a guard extending from the conveyer frame across the space between the same and the tractor, to prevent material lrolling under the wheels of said tractor,

and a guard attached to thc side of the tractor to clear the track vof material.

12. The combination with a conveyer having means for .removing material from a pile and screemng and elevating said 'ma-4 terial, of a tractor coupledin line with the conveyer and having a conveyer belt and carrying frame therefor said'frame being of a cantaliver type 'supported from the main 10 frame of the tractor, and a discharge chute at the end of the cantaliver frame and supported thereby.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FRANK JONES. 

